Kehinde Onabanjo-Iyiola (KOI), a trained lawyer and entrepreneur is the CEO and mind behind Whitestone Event Place and Finesse Events. At Finesse Events, she leads a team of skilled event managers, event decorators, and vendors to deliver fun and memorable experiences to individuals, private and public organizations. Over the past decade since the inception of Finesse Events, Kehinde has led diverse teams to deliver over 5,000 events from weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, product launches, exhibitions, and concerts all across major Nigerian cities.
Since starting Finesse Events in 2008 planning weddings for friends and organizing team-building events for businesses, Finesse Events has grown rapidly by referrals and word-of-mouth into the trusted event company for high profile events such as the full planning and coordination of the 15,000+ guests funeral ceremony for Mrs. Abigail Makinde (Mother of Governor SeyiMakinde), 2019 pre-inauguration party for Governor Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos State Governor), the 2019 pre-inauguration and inauguration ceremony for Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo state Governor), the coronation ceremony of Oba Saheed Elegushi (Ikate Kingdom), Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal (Oniru Kingdom), and Oba FataiOyeyinka Ojora (Ijora Kingdom). Finesse Events has also planned and delivered the birthday celebrations of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Olu Okeowo, the 40thbirthday celebrations of Mrs. Shade Okoya, Pastor Godman Akinlabi, Her Royal Majesty Shekinat Elegushi, the 40th and 45th birthday celebration of His Royal Highness Oba Saheed Elegushi as well as the 50thbirthday celebrations of Governor Seyi Makinde. Finesse Events has also planned and delivered the burial ceremony of Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and late Chief Tunji Braithwaite as well as the Palace commissioning and book launch of his Royal Highness – King Apollos Chu, Bayelsa State and Oyo State Government Events, the Lagos 2018 EYO Festival, Teju Babyface wedding and TV shows, AY Show, Alibaba Comedy Shows, GTB AGM, Niger Delta Refinery AGM, Oyo State 2021 Agribusiness, and several wedding ceremonies and other events to mention a few.
Kehinde is the convener of Finesse Academy, an event-focused training platform through which she seeks to raise and support the next generation of event professionals in Nigeria. Kehinde is also the CEO of Whitestone Event Place, a premium event venue located in the heart of Ikeja and purpose-built with a 1200-capacity hall for large events and a 150-capacity hall for more intimate events. Whitestone also has 8-bed hotel accommodation and a fine-dining restaurant. Kehinde lent her experience to consult for The Monarch Event Centre, Lekki and was the brain behind the planning and execution of the Monarch Event Centre, Lekki.
Kehinde is a founding member of Nigeria’s leading event management professional body APPOEMN (Association of Professional Party Planners and Event Managers of Nigeria). She is the pioneer Events Director of APPOEMN, a recognition by peers and professional colleagues for her creativity and events management skills. It is, for this reason, she is referred to as the Event Planner’s Planner in many circles.
